EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON WILLIAMS’ REMORSE, LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

Ruiz was patrolling Santana High School in his new campus-security job when he heard what sounded like firecrackers in a nearby boys’ restroom. He entered and saw Bryan Zuckor and Trevor Edwards lying on the floor and one stall door closed. Trevor shouted to him, “Get out, get out.” As Ruiz turned around to radio for 911, he felt a bullet hit him in the lower back and then two other bullets going through the side and shoulder. He struggled outside and then collapsed.

Ruiz currently lives in North Park.

“I only agreed to be part of this story to remind people that Andy is not a saint or a kid who had a bad day. I came from a single-parent home and now my son splits time between his mom and me, but it doesn’t mean we are going to shoot up a school. We all were given free will, and we know right from wrong. He knew what he was doing that day, even if he’s talking now about bullying, peer pressure, being neglected in a divorced family.”

“I’m not living on the street, but I do struggle to make sure I have a roof over my son’s head, that he has food in his stomach and clothes on his back. Andy has all that given to him and more in prison. Knowing that I’m somehow paying for those things for Andy as a taxpayer just sucks!”

“It’s unclear whether in prison, Andy has really learned how much he hurt us. The two young men he killed will never have a chance to enjoy life again.”

Christopher Yanov

As founder and president of the nationally renowned organization Reality Changers, which tries to transform at-risk youths into academic achievers, Yanov focuses on signs of trouble in teens and offers targeted intervention.

His nonprofit group is based in City Heights.

“Encourage youths to develop, seek out and accomplish their goals. If a young man believes he can do anything in life or a young woman believes that her future is limitless, what are the odds that he/she will choose to fire a gun at someone? One out of infinity?”

“These goals or life options must be perceived as both real and realistic. Sure, everyone can say they want to become doctors, but only with regular, positive interactions with people in the medical industry will such dreams have a higher likelihood of coming true.”